Chelsea winger Florent Malouda believes he should be shown more respect by France coach Raymond Domenech.
Winger feels punished by France coach
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda believes he should be shown more respect by France coach Raymond Domenech.
Malouda has 44 caps for France but has largely been left on the sidelines since Euro 2008 - and has now been left out of the squad to play Uruguay.
He believes it is down to non-footballing reasons, and says it is about time Domenech started to treat him with respect.
"I am not a clown, I am not a puppet. You have to respect individuals as well," Malouda told L'Equipe.
Conflict
"I don't want to talk about him, or with him. He has the tendency to create conflict...what he has done to me, he has never done to anyone else. But he has the right to do what he wants."
Malouda was not at his best during Euro 2008, and although he was given a chance at the start of France's World Cup qualifying campaign, he found himself in the stands against Austria and was hauled off after just 37 minutes against Romania.
The winger feels he's being punished for openly criticising Domenech's treatment of him.
"Firstly I was put in the stands, then when I came back, my number was changed without telling me and I came off in the 37th minute. It isn't a punishment, no, it is a reward!" he said sarcastically.
Punishment
"After more than 40 appearances, it is a reward that I really deserved. What he did to me in Romania, he would never have done before I spoke out. Even if I was playing badly."
Because of the way things have panned out, Malouda is apparently not expecting a call-up for France's next friendly against Argentina next month.
"I am not hoping for anything. I will just try to perform for my club - after that, he can do what he wants," Malouda added.
